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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Joseph Matins <joseph_matins06@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: joseph_matins02@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 22:51:14 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOOD DAY


GOOD DAY,

I AM CONTACTING YOU WITH HONOUR AND CONFIDENCE THAT I HAVE CHOSEN A RIGHT PERSON THAT WILL HELP AND EXECUTE THIS INVESTMENT PROJECT WITH ME.

MY NAME IS JOSEPH MARTINS SON TO DR SAMUEL MARTINS OF SIERRA LEONE.MY FATHER DIED ON JANUARY 2004. I ALSO LOST MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS ONLY NINE YEARS OF AGE.

MY LATE FATHER DEPOSITED THE SUM OF SIXTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD($16,500,000.00)IN A SECURITY FIRM HERE IN ABIDJAN,COTE D'IVOIRE.

I AM LOOKING FOR A GOD FEARING FOREIGN PARTNER WHO WILL HELP ME TO RETRIEVE THIS FUND FROM THE SECURITY FIRM AND TRANSFAR IT INTO HIS ACOUNT ABROAD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES,THAT IS WHY I CHOOSE YOU TO REPRESENT MY LATE FATHER'S FOREIGN BUSINESS PARTNER.

AS SOON AS I RECIEVE YOUR REPLY ,I WILL GIVE YOU THE CONTACT OF THE COMPANY.I CAME TO ABIDJAN HERE AND HAVE ALREADY MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY.

YOU WILL GET 17% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR ASSISTACE IMMIDIATELY THE TRANSACTION IS OVER.

PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MONEY IS OF NO CRIMINAL ORIGIN AS MY LATE FATHER WAS A GOLD AND DIAMOND MINER IN SIERRA LEONE BEFOER HIS DEATH.

HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU ASAP.
THANKS,
JOSEPH MARTINS.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam